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In the life of Elvis Presley there is one person whose story, dating back to Elvis’ high school days in Humes High School in Memphis, about Red West entering a bathroom and finding Elvis against a wall and some students threatening to cut Elvis’ hair and then Red West said, and he was known as a tough guy and a football player, the infamous words of “if you cut his hair then you are going to have to cut mine and that will be a different story”. It is important to know that this was way before Elvis was known outside of his family but his style of dress, and his long hair, stood out. Needless to say, the boys left and Elvis thanked Red and the two became friends over three decades.

It is with a great, and eternal, sadness that we learned that Red West died on July 18, 2017 after suffering an aortic aneurysm at the Baptist Hospital in Memphis. He was 81 years old. His death occurred less than two months after the death of his cousin Sonny West whose friendship with Elvis mirrored Red’s as Sonny worked with, and was a close friend of, Elvis for three decades also.

While we strive to make this blog, along with our other blogs and our primary international award winning Elvis Presley website of http://www.ElvisCollector.info that is designated by Graceland as an Official Elvis Presley Fan Club, informative and “light” we also put a premium on facts and sadly it is a fact that Red West died.

Our hearts, prayers, and thoughts will remain with those who were related to, loved by, friends of, worked with, etc. Red West. I can’t help but pause, in sadness as I am writing this, to reflect that in the past months (i.e. in 2017) three of Elvis’ beloved friends have died being Red West, Sonny West, and Marty Lacker. The same sentiment, and prayers, go out to all of their families/loved ones as well.

We hope our next post, and others to follow, will not be of sadness.

I want to thank the (literally) thousands of visitors to the combination of this blog, http://www.ElvisCollector.info, other blogs, http://www.ElvisCollectorWorldwidefreeforums.org (100% free Elvis Presley forum in beta testing phase but we invite you to join and enjoy), emails, letters, cards, etc. pertaining to my battle with cancer these seven years. I have always said that Elvis fans are the most loyal, informed, passionate, etc. and over these past six decades I continue to see, and hear, so many kind words/posts/etc.

Lastly, I have never (nor do I plan to) monetized my relationship, collections, knowledge, friendships, etc. pertaining to Elvis. This is also true to those who are related to Elvis, worked with Elvis, close friends with Elvis, wrote about Elvis, etc.. Though for all intents and purposes I am, and have been for approximately six decades, an expert about the life of Elvis Presley onstage and off my knowledge pales when it comes to others who knew Elvis throughout his life and (thankfully) have shared their memories, photographs, audio files, recordings, firsthand accounts, videos, etc.

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To so many when they think about Elvis they have their own favorite list of Elvis Presley songs. Some were from the 1950’s when they saw Elvis on TV or the movies. Some were Gospel songs which were dear, and near, to Elvis heart all his life. Some were related to soundtracks of his movies in the 1960’s with an emphasis on his 1968 Singer TV special entitled “Elvis”. Others think about Elvis’ return to live appearances, after (approximately) nine years, in 1969 followed by a string of hits in the beginning to mid 1970’s. Just like we are all unique, with our own life lessons and memories, depending on the day we chose different songs, including Elvis’, and we enjoy the beat – the vocal inflections – the arrangements – musicians among the best in the world, and the backup singers who helped to breathe life into Elvis’ songs onstage and off.

If you go to http://www.ElvisCollector.info among the rare, and unique, content you will find a list of every song Elvis recorded/sang along with other pertinent facts. But among the lesser known songs there are plenty of gems hence this post.

* Note each of these songs were recorded in the 1960’s. All videos courtesy of YouTube.

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We are so pleased to announce that Elvis Collector Worldwide Fan Club, our affiliated international fan club, has been officially recognized by Elvis Presley Enterprise/Graceland as an “official Elvis Presley Fan Club”!

This honor allow us to (including but not limited to); hold fan club events, meetings, or other functions not only in our area but around the world.

Elvis Presley Enterprises/Graceland formally acknowledged our fan club with the hopes that we are able to spread the life, legacy, and music of Elvis Presley and the positive effects he has had on each individual. We will make these hopes an everyday reality as we have for (approximately) six decades now.